Strategies for the conservation of two critically endangered, endemic primates in panama

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Strategies for the Conservation of Two Critically Endangered, Endemic Primates
in Panama
Author(s): Pedro Méndez-Carvajal, Ivelisse Ruiz-Bernard, Yarelis González, Kenia Sánchez, Valeria
Franco, Somaly Silva and Glenis De León
Source: Primate Conservation, (27):13-21. 2013.
Published By: Conservation International
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13
Primate Conservation 2013 (27): 13–21
Strategies for the Conservation of Two Critically Endangered,
Endemic Primates in Panama
Pedro Méndez-Carvajal, Ivelisse Ruiz-Bernard, Yarelis González, Kenia Sánchez, Valeria Franco,
Somaly Silva and Glenis De León
Fundación Pro-Conservación de los Primates Panameños (FCPP), Panamá, República de Panamá
Abstract: Neotropical Primates are threatened because of deforestation and hunting. There are numerous species and subspecies
of primates today restricted entirely to small forest patches. Many are poorly studied due to the remoteness of their ranges, politi-
cal situations, or the expensive logistics required. Although population surveys are important to obtain baseline information for
the conservation of threatened primates, there are opportunities where population censuses could be used in conjunction with
rapid conservation strategies. In this report we encourage scientists to use collateral techniques that could positively impact local
FRPPXQLWLHVZKLOHXQGHUWDNLQJVFLHQWL¿FVWXGLHV7KH\LQFOXGHWKHLQYROYHPHQWRIELRORJ\VWXGHQWVIURPWKHWDUJHWFRXQWU\WKH
use of informative material to divulge information on the natural history and conservation of the target species, and the creation
of interest among community leaders so that a long-term conservation program can be established in the future.
Key Words: Primate conservation, Azuero Peninsula, Azuero howler monkey, Azuero spider monkey, environmental education,

Panama
Resumen: Los Primates Neotropicales se encuentran en peligro debido a la deforestación y a la cacería. Existen diferentes sub-
especies de primates hoy en día restringidas solo a pequeños parches de bosques. Muchas han sido poco estudiadas dado a su
rango de distribución remoto, situaciones políticas, o al costoso equipo requerido. Aunque censos poblacionales son importantes
para obtener información de línea base para la conservación de primates amenazados, existen oportunidades donde los censos
poblacionales podrían ser llevados a cabo en conjunto con estrategias rápidas de conservación. En este reporte incentivamos a los
investigadores a utilizar técnicas colaterales para un impacto positivo en las comunidades locales mientras realizamos estudios de
investigación. Ello incluye la incorporación de estudiantes de biología de los países visitados, el uso de material informativo para
divulgar información de la historia natural y la conservación de las especies estudiadas, y el incentivo de un interés a líderes de
las comunidades, de manera que se puedan desarrollar programas de conservación a largo plazo en el futuro.
Palabras Claves: Conservación de primates, Península de Azuero, mono aullador de Azuero, mono araña de Azuero, educación
ambiental, Panamá.
Introduction
The Azuero Peninsula of southwest Panama, Central
America, is an extensively deforested zone that has three
provinces: Herrera (with 27,202 human dwellings and 183
secondary schools); Los Santos (with 25,052 human dwell-
ings and 163 secondary schools); and the east of Veraguas
(with 49,102 human dwellings and 518 secondary schools)
FAO (2002). This area is home to two subspecies of primates
endemic to Panama, the Azuero howler monkey (Alouatta
coibensis trabeata) and the Azuero spider monkey (Ateles
geoffroyi azuerensis). These subspecies are considered to be
the two of the most endangered primates in Panama (Méndez-
Carvajal 2011). Other primates such as the Panamanian white-
throated capuchin (Cebus imitator) KDYHEHHQLGHQWL¿HGDVDW
high risk regionally by the Fundación Pro-Conservación de
los Primates Panameños (FCPP). This is due to factors such
as very small remaining wild populations, their damaged
Méndez-Carvajal et al.

14
and fragmented habitats, regional endemism, and the lack of
conservation plans (Jacobson et al. 2006; Méndez-Carvajal
2011). The primates are affected by exposure to crop spraying,
the pet trade, agriculture, cattle ranching, hunting, mining,
tourism, expansion of teak plantations, and, most recently,
real estate investments (Méndez-Carvajal and Ruiz-Bernard
7KH)&33LVD3DQDPDQLDQQRQSUR¿WRUJDQL]DWLRQWKDW
KDVLQLWLDWHGWKH¿UVWSULPDWHFRQVHUYDWLRQSODQIRUWKH$]XHUR
Peninsula, monitoring the primate populations remaining in
the area. The FCPP has developed an educational program
to conserve the Azuero wildlife in accordance with previous
conservation assessments (Horwich 1996; Rodríguez-Luna
et al. 1996; Cowlishaw and Dunbar 2000; Rabinowitz 2003;
Jacobson et al. 2006; Méndez-Carvajal et al. 2006). In this
project, we attempt to maximize our approach any time we
visit the study sites by involving local people, as they are
the key to helping in the conservation of the native fauna of
Azuero. We developed a questionnaire to evaluate each town
surveyed (n = 150) and contacted community leaders to intro-
duce our project and our main goal. The creation of good atti-
tudes and practices in the local communities helps to mitigate
the decline in primate populations living in forest fragments
and the corridors of trees often extending from and between
them (living fences) in the protected areas. To meet this goal
we developed the following objectives:
 Provide information on the biology, ecological role
and land use activities that affect the primates in their
communities;
 promote the interest of the locals as volunteers for

tracking and protecting the primates in their areas;
 involve Panamanian biologists interested in primates
studies; and
 develop educational activities that can be used to evalu-
ate the effectiveness of our presence in their areas.
The Azuero Peninsula
Land use
&DWWOHUDQFKLQJ¿UVWEHJDQLQ3DQDPDLQZKHQWKH
colonial administrator, Pedro Arias de Ávila, brought 50 cows
from Jamaica (Gligo 1999; Castro 2004). In the middle of the
17th century, the people who lived in Panama City started to
migrate west to start up ranches, and cattle ranching quickly
became the main economic activity of the country (Hecka-
don-Moreno 1998, 2001). The Spaniards developed Azuero
DV RQH RI WKH ¿UVW SURGXFWLRQ FHQWHUV LQ 3DQDPD JURZLQJ
rice, sugar cane, corn, pineapple and, most importantly, rais-
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partially covered by savannas (Suárez 1981; Gligo 1999).
Panamanians in this region also hunted wildlife for subsis-
tence (Heckadon-Moreno 2001). Today, the Azuero Peninsula
is a mixed landscape with extensive pastures and secondary
and remnant forests, as well as mature primary and secondary
forests in the mountains. Some of the forests are protected
as national parks, forest reserves, and other categories by the
Panama National Environmental Authority (ANAM 1999).
This interaction with the environment was a fundamental
element of the lifestyles of the Azuerense (people native to
the Azuero Peninsula), who are known today as outstanding
hunters, farmers and cowboys. Traditional farming practices
involve conserving native forest patches or “Chapas,” which

VHUYHDVDUHVRXUFHIRUPHGLFLQHVIUXLWVDQG¿UHZRRGWRJHWKHU
with living fences (Brandaris 1983). “Living Fences” consist
RIVSHFL¿FWUHHVWKDWWKHFDPSHVLQRVXVHWRVXSSRUWWKHLUQHHGV
timber for construction, fruits, and shelter for cattle (Suárez
1981). The living fences have created effective corridors for
the dispersal of wildlife between the forest patches (Méndez-
Carvajal 2008). As new generations of Azuerenses are getting
better education in careers not related to agriculture, most of
the farming areas are now being abandoned, overused or sold
to immigrants. Consequently other farm owners hire indig-
enous people to work on their lands, creating another pres-
sure on the primates living in the area as they eat monkeys
as part of their culture. Azuerenses are also looking for more
land to expand and “develop” cattle ranches, and since the
1980s have been migrating to forested regions such as Colon
Province, Chagres and Darien (eastern side of Panama). The
impact of their regional culture is now threatening the remain-
ing forested areas in Panama and the lack of environmental
education campaigns in Azuero in the past years is resulting
in them making the same mistake of extreme deforestation.
FCPP thus considers Azuero to be in need of permanent expo-
sure to conservation activities, as is true of other regions in
Panama.
Environmental aspects
Environmental variables such as cold spells with
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primate populations. In addition to being susceptible to the
cold spells, Azuero howlers are suffer from parasitism by the
KRZOHUERWÀ\Cuterebra baeri) (Méndez-Carvajal and Ruiz-
Bernard 2009). The most prolonged episodes of rain and

cold are normally in October and November. They can be a
cause of mortality in a number of species, including howler
and spider monkeys, as has also been reported in Costa Rica
(A. Bustamante pers. comm) (Fig. 1).
Methods
To evaluate the situation of the Azuero primates, the
authors carried out surveys and interviews around the towns,

areas of cattle ranching, rivers, and mountains that contain
remnant forests (Méndez-Carvajal 2011). The survey proj-
ect was begun in April 2001 in order to establish a long-
term population project to assess the primate communities
and their ecology. The environmental education activities
began shortly after support was gained from international
Primate Conservation in Panama
15
institutions (Ruiz-Bernard et al. 2010). Each year, differ-
ent strategies were adopted for these surveys, including the
following.
Training students from the Biology School of the University
of Panama
This training is provided free, and includes teaching
GLIIHUHQWWHFKQLTXHV IRU VXUYH\LQJSULPDWHVVSHFL¿FDOO\ IRU
Cebus, Alouatta, and Ateles. The curriculum includes meth-
RGVIRUWKHFROOHFWLRQRI¿HOGGDWDRQSULPDWHJURXSVWUXFWXUH
mapping and compass use, and the calculation of distances
DQGKHLJKWVIRUKDELWDWGHVFULSWLRQV$IWHU¿YHKRXUVRIWKHRU\
the project offers the students the opportunity to practice
WKHVHPHWKRGVLQWKH¿HOGE\DFWLQJDVYROXQWHHUVLQ¿YHWR
ten day surveys (see “youtube” site “atelesaz”). Field train-

ing includes the use of GPS, recording equipment to study
vocalizations, fecal sampling and observational techniques.
The goal of this initiative is to develop the interest of senior
biology students in primate research for their bachelors theses,
ZKLOHDOVRVXSSRUWLQJRXUSURMHFWZLWKWKHLU¿HOGZRUN
Educational activities in the primary and secondary schools
in Azuero
Educational talks have been developed to offer basic
information to the children in the regional schools in the
northeastern areas of Azuero. Here the remaining Azuero
howler and capuchins monkey populations live close to the
villages and are at greater risk. In these presentations, we talk
about primate biodiversity, the Azuero primates, and the char-
acteristics that humans share with them as part of the same
mammalian order. We also talk about how similar we are in
our anatomy, the social and family structure, and daily neces-
sities (for example, food, refuge, and use of plants). The talks
also touch on basic information about primate food, their
importance in the ecosystem as seed dispersers and pollina-
tors, and how they contribute to the survival of wild animals
(for example, deer, paca, agoutis, and peccaries). We normally
conclude with ten minutes of questions or drawing activities,
where we measure the knowledge of the students after each
talk and answer any remaining questions that they might have.
We give each school a poster with information on the three
subspecies of Azuero primates, indicating how they can help
to minimize the risk of their extinction. The initiative also
gives away t-shirts that have images of the most endangered
non-human primates in Azuero and a message on the back
of how they can help the primates, which are a part of their

heritage and responsibility.
Educational activities around natural reserves and villages
in Azuero
The Azuero Peninsula has three main natural zones under
government protection: El Montuoso Forest Reserve in the
north of the Herrera province, Cerro Hoya National Park at
the southwestern part of the peninsula (eastern part of Vera-
guas province), and La Tronosa Forest Reserve at the south-
ern end of Los Santos province. We have contacted mem-
bers of the ANAM and the forest rangers of these protected
DUHDVHYHU\\HDUEHIRUHDQGGXULQJRXU¿HOGZRUN2XUYLVLWV
with the forest rangers include an open discussion where
we exchange information about our results, what we do in
Azuero, their experiences seeing monkeys and conservation
issues in the area. We give them new information, and also
t-shirts with conservation messages. Our goal is focused on
obtaining information on the ranger’s needs and how they
work to improve the protection of the natural areas under their
charge. That information is used to evaluate the effectiveness
of the parks and reserves (see Rodríguez-Luna et al. 1996),
and make recommendations to the ANAM’s directors for the
future management of the parks and reserves of the zones. As
we visit the remote areas of the peninsula, we inform the com-
munities about what we are doing and also obtain information
from them that can facilitate our encounters with primates.
We are interested in knowing their point of view about having
primates close to their houses, as well as the past history of
the occurrence of the primates and local extinctions of iso-
lated populations. With this information and contacts, our
goal is to involve local people and have them participate in

our activities. We want to obtain information about the history
of the fauna, native plant knowledge, and the presence and
problems related to the primates.
Road signs, ‘youtube’ videos, and newspaper articles
The information obtained is passed to the general public
EH\RQGWKHVFLHQWL¿FFRPPXQLW\E\SXWWLQJVLJQVDORQJWKH
roads, posting videos with conservation messages on the
internet, and publishing articles in national newspapers. After
realizing that groups of Azuero primates can be found in gal-
lery forests along some secondary roads and close to bridges,
we have posted some signs beside the roads and bridges to
warn people not to feed the monkeys. Feeding monkeys is
practiced in some areas by people thinking that feeding them
is a good and humanitarian thing for them to do. However,
other local people feed them poisoned foods, arguing that
Figure 1. The Azuero landscape, showing cattle pastures bordered with living
IHQFHVRQHRIWKHUHPDLQLQJYHJHWDWLRQW\SHVZKHUHLWLVVWLOOSRVVLEOHWR¿QG
native primates.
Méndez-Carvajal et al.
16
they damage their crops and plantations, and believing it is a
ZD\WRSURWHFWWKHLUFDWWOHIURPWKHODUYDHRIWKHERWÀ\Cute-
rebra baeri) that they see on the howler monkeys.
Some locals used to put out bananas and leftovers from
restaurants to feed the monkeys on the bridges, causing diges-
tive problems for the primates. There have been at least three
food-related instances that led to the death of nine or ten mon-
keys in the past three years. Azuero howlers in those areas
have also been killed by electrical installments, and cars when
they walk on the bridges looking for food placed there by

people. Our yearly visits and the volunteers visiting the com-
munity are now helping to protect the monkeys in these vul-
nerable areas of Azuero.
Most of the younger generation in northeastern Azuero
now use the internet. Secondary school students who are very
familiar with the internet are now less familiar with the pri-
mates living in their own town. FCPP has posted videos with
topics related to environmental education on
<
youtube.com
>
.
This is done every year to keep the students and the general
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viewing these videos the students can also learn about our
activities around the peninsula. Newspaper articles providing
general information related to this project and the Azuero pri-
mates are also important. This information is accessible to the
local community where we work and encourages the conser-
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Figure 2. Environmental education activities developed for the Fundación Pro-Conservación de los Primates Panameños-FCPP, Azuero Peninsula, Panama. These
include the following: road signs, informative talks to primary and secondary schools, creating educational tools such as masks and paintings related to the primates
and their habitat, informative posters, and educational talks with the forest rangers of the reserves.
Primate Conservation in Panama
17
Results
We have evidence of positive effects of the program on
the local people who await our annual visits and collect anec-
dotal information for us. Based on our recent questionnaires,
the people are showing an increase of 30% in basic knowledge

related to the monkeys, and owners of agricultural lands are
avoiding unnecessary tree-felling. The knowledge of the land
owners has further improvement of (71% for 2011) compared
ZLWK WKH ¿UVW SUHVXUYH\  IRU  EXW PRUH SHRSOH
have to be reached. As this program has been supported by
local biologists, their interaction with the local community
has created an excellent way to teach conservation practices.
In addition, the children respect them as leaders of their com-
munities (Fig. 3).
Training of students from the Biology School of the University
of Panama
Ten undergraduate students have participated in the pro-
gram; three represented Panama in the XI Mesoamerican
Congress of Biology and Conservation at Oaxtepec, More-
ORV0H[LFRDQGWKH)LUVW6FLHQWL¿F&RQJUHVVRIWKH$]XHUR
University Regional Center (CRUA) in Azuero, Panama in
2007. Other students have assisted primatologists visiting
Panama and some others have been part of our environmental
education team, giving talks in secondary schools around the
Azuero Peninsula. FCPP organized an international primate
symposium in 2012, in the XVI Mesoamerican Society for
Biology and Conservation Congress held in Panama City.
Educational activities around natural reserves and villages
in Azuero
The educational talks given during our surveys took
place mostly at the following schools and colleges of Herrera
province: Rafael Quintero Villarreal from Ocú El Calabazal
School, School Cristina R. de Pinzón of La Polonia, School
Aleida Agustina from Llano Grande; Los Santos province:
La Miel of Las Tablas, and the Agronomy School of Tonosi.

Educational guides, t-shirts, posters, stickers and bookmarks
have been distributed to the Llano de Piedras School, El Mon-
tuoso School, La Corocita School, El Cacao of Tonosi School,
Canajaguas School, Valle Rico School, besides other public
centers around Azuero. FCPP have addressed around 300
students per year. We have visited the El Montuoso Forest
Reserve (seven rangers) and Arenas ANAM station (four
rangers) in Veraguas, Cerro Hoya. Our evaluation of the natu-
ral reserves is presented in Tables 1 and 2.
Road signs, youtube videos, and newspaper publications
We have put up signs that provide basic information
related to the primates living in the area, along with our con-
tact information and messages that inform the public not to
feed the monkeys, and basic biological information in Eng-
lish and Spanish. Signs were placed along the ríos Oria and
La Palma (Los Santos). Another two were placed near the Río
Cañas in Tonosi (Los Santos), and two along the Río Pavo in
Veraguas province. Two road signs alerting people to reduce
speed were placed on the Tonosi road in Los Santos Prov-
ince. Since 2001 we have published ten articles on the critical
Presurvey
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80

90
Represent a threat
Do not represent a threat
Do not know
They are bush-meat
They are not bush-meat
Do not know
Decreasing
Not decreasing
Do not know
Die by botfly
Die by crop spray
Do not know
Questions
Percentages
Figure 3. Pre-survey to evaluate basic knowledge about the primates in Azuero, n = 150, April–May 2001 (20 questions). The preliminary evaluation detected that
there was rather little interest in hunting primates for food, although interviewees said that monkeys are shot sometimes as an easy target in hunting practice. They
had little notion of the ecological role of primates in the forest. The local people considered the white-faced capuchin (Cebus imitator) to be a serious threat to their
crops, but otherwise showed considerable interest in learning more about the conservation of the peninsula’s primates.
Méndez-Carvajal et al.
18
situation of the monkeys in the area and one regarding the
vocalization behavior of the Azuero howlers.
Future plans include engaging the Panama Ministry of
Education (MEDUCA) as a collaborator in the creation and
distribution of an educational guide for school teachers. Other
governmental institutions such as the Gorgas Commemora-
tive Institute (ICGES) and the Health Ministry of Panama
(MINSA) have contacted FCPP to obtain assessments and
information about our primate monitoring program around

Panama. The document “Guía Didáctica por la Conservación
de los Primates de Azuero” prepared by FCPP includes topics
related to the primates and to the yearly study plan for those
communities. Measures of the effectiveness of these conserva-
tion activities include the continual monitoring and evaluation
of primate populations and vegetation in old and new forest
patches. To date, all the primate groups that have been identi-
¿HG DQG FHQVXVHGVLQFH  KDYHVXUYLYHG DQG WKHLUKDEL-
tats have been almost untouched. This could be considered an
important achievement of our project. Future projects include
the measurement and comparison of forest expansion and
regeneration. This will be done using advanced techniques
of GIS. We will also study the correlation between fragment
regeneration and the presence of primates and other mammals.
Discussion
These activities were all begun to study and conserve
two endemic and Critically Endangered primates from south-
western Panama (Azuero Peninsula); the Azuero howler and
spider monkeys. However, direct access to the community
Table 1. Achievements of FCPP’s environmental educational activities from 2001 to 2013.
Past situation Activities developed (2001–2013) Improvement Actual situation/needs
Lack of basic information
in the local communities
1. Environmental education talks to
schools, farmers and local people
in general, University of Panama
2. Distribution of: stickers, posters
and bookmarks with information
3. Educational Guide
4. Local publication in newspapers

5. Basic webpage
6. Road signs
7. Cultural activities
8. Local TV participation
1. Stopped feeding monkeys with bananas.
2. Wrong perception of abundance due to
overcrowded population
3. Monkeys are not good for pet campaign
4. Local observers
5. (QYLURQPHQWDO*XLGHSULQWHG¿UVWVHW
of 100
6. At least one article related with primates
is published yearly in a local newspaper
7. Basic webpage
 Lack of better webpage
 Lack of enough environmental
material
 Budget to print our guides
 More video or visual material
 Lack of documentary informing
about our projects
 Improve quality of road signs
/DFNRIVFLHQWL¿F
information
1. Population surveys
2. Distribution map
3. Vocalization studies
4. Behavior studies
5. We expanded our projects to
Coiba Island, Darien, Boquete,

Burica Peninsula, Panama Canal
Zone and San Blas Mountain
Chain
1. Informed about total population, group’s
structure, birth and mortality rate per
area
2. Accuracy in right distribution
3. Actual biological information
4. First evaluation of vocalization structure
for A. coibensis trabeata
 Ecological projects related to
study the seed dispersers and
pollinators in Azuero Peninsula
 Budget to monitor actual groups
found
 Expand our surveys
Lack of support and
interest from national and
international organizations
in Panama
1. Communicate with new people
2. Train ourselves and look for
international training related with
primates
1. University of Panama has been interested
in cooperating with our organization
2. We have produced: 1 master thesis, 5
QHZVSDSHUDUWLFOHVVFLHQWL¿FDUWLFOHV
1 educational guide, 1 book chapter, 7
contributions at an international level

 Standardize methods.
 PhD and Masters on Primatology
or Anthropology from Panama
are in need
Lack of funds
1. *HQHUDWHVFLHQWL¿FSURSRVDOV
2. Develop activities to obtain
support
3. Government opportunities
1. We have generated more than 100 pro-
posals, received support from more than
10 organizations
2. We did bookmarks representing each
species of Panamanian primates for sell
and distribute for free in local villages
 Seeds funds available
Lack of biology students
interested in primatology
1. Talks to the University of Panama
2. Visits to branches of the
Universities.
3. Contacting Biology professors
1. 10 students trained in surveying
primates.
2. Participation in two regional congresses,
and three international congresses
3. 2UJDQL]HGWKH¿UVW3ULPDWRORJLFDO
symposium in Panama, the III for
Mesoamerica
 Lack of funds to support our

trained students and do not lose
their valuable skills
Lack of a conservation plan
1. Elaborate a conservation plan
through an environmental educa-
tion and a long-term survey
1. We created our own plan for conserva-
tion following an action plan suggested
by Rodríguez-Luna et al., (1996)
 Achieved
Lack of a national entity
dedicated to study and
conserve the Panamanian
primates
1. Legal process to create a NGO.
2. Expand studies of non-human
primates to the rest of Panama
1. We created the For-Conservation Foun-
dation of Panamanian Primates (FCPP).
 Achieved
Primate Conservation in Panama
19
and interaction with the local people have called our attention
to other species that can be positively impacted by our work,
KHOSLQJ LQ WKH HQG WKH HQWLUH QDWLYH ÀRUD DQG IDXQD 5XL]
Bernard et al. 2010). The capuchin Cebus imitator that is Vul-
nerable according to Cuarón et al. (2013) is one of the species
that could be considered as Endangered at the regional level,
LI ZH WDNH LQWRDFFRXQWWKHVLJQL¿FDQFH RI WKLV PRQNH\IRU
the local people. It is a crop-raider, and when there was no

action from the government to mitigate the problem, farm-
ers decided to hunt them to extermination. Our research and
direct observations in the area have shown us that the only
way to save this species is through our efforts and activities.
The participation of the local biologists and support from
national and international institutions is crucial to keep up
this long-term effort.
Based on the “Action Plan for the Mesoamerican Pri-
mates”, prepared by Rodríguez-Luna et al. (1996), the Pri-
PDWH6SHFLDOLVW*URXSKDVFODVVL¿HGWKHWZRPRVWLPSRUWDQW
steps toward the conservation of these primates. They are
the Study Priorities (E) and the Conservation Actions (AC).
Taking this document as a guide, the FCPP has achieved the
following: E1 – Identify and monitor populations in protected
areas; E2 – Determine densities and population growth;
E3 – Determine actual distribution; E8 – Habitat preferred;
E9 – Long-term evaluations and viability of populations.
However we still need to complete the following steps, which
are: E4 – Taxonomic studies; E5 – Measurement of hunting
impact; E6 – Habitat transformation effects; E7 – Habitat
fragmentation effects (already underway) (Tables 1 and 2).
For Conservation Actions, we have accomplished the
following: AC1 – Encourage and promote more primatolo-
gists to study the primates and continue long-term projects;
AC6 – Advise governmental authorities in the management of
the primates and their habitat; AC7 – develop an environmen-
tal education program that promotes the collaboration between
local people and the primate conservation plan. Regarding
AC4 (develop more protected areas), what we have seen while
working in the communities is that people reject the idea of

strictly protected areas, not because they do not care about the
species but because they depend on them for their subsistence
needs. This was discussed by Cowlishaw and Dunbar (2000),
who mentioned the implications of restricting the use of land
by local people without incentives. We do not recommend
the idea of creating more natural reserves in zones that are
already being heavily exploited such as the Azuero Peninsula;
it is not a priority for Azuero. The people of Azuero have the
capacity to conserve their natural resources and fauna. This
can be carried out through a program of intense environmen-
tal education. Our yearly monitoring of primates and our edu-
cational efforts in the area will encourage the cooperation of
the locals and help us to stay vigilant to any changes. Our
idea moreover, is to improve the use of living fences, which
is already a cultural practice, and promote the connectivity
of patches of forest with gallery forest and reserves already
established (recommended also by Oates 1996).
The three most important natural reserves in Azuero Pen-
insula were evaluated based on the criteria of Mackinnon et al.
(1986), proposed by Rodríguez-Luna et al. (1996). The infor-
PDWLRQREWDLQHGUHÀHFWHGWKHFRPPLWPHQWDQGHIIHFWLYHQHVV
of the administration in El Montuoso Forest Reserve; how-
ever, spider monkeys are no longer found there. The Azuero
spider monkey was hunted out about 20 years ago (Méndez-
Carvajal 2011).
These point to weaknesses in the laws and the extent of
population pressure on the protected area (see Pimbert and
Pretty 1995). The effectiveness of La Tronosa Forest Reserve
was lowest in the evaluation due to its greater accessibility to
locals and also by people from the city, but this reserve still

has Azuero howler and spider monkeys. Cerro Hoya Natural
3DUNLVDUHPRWHORFDWLRQDQGLVGLI¿FXOWWRUHDFKDQGLVWKH
best and safest place for Azuero howlers and spiders monkeys
to survive (Table 2).
Table 2. FCPP’s evaluation of the management of three natural protected ar-
eas in Azuero Peninsula, Panama, according to the guidelines suggested by
Rodríguez-Luna et al. (1996). The three reserves fall in the Medium Point Lev-
el. EMFR: El Montuoso Forest Reserve; CHNP: Cerro Hoya National Park,
LTFR: La Tronosa Forest Reserve.
Category EMFR CHNP LTFR
Legislation 4 4 4
Mammal inventory 1 1 1
Bird inventory 1 1 1
Reptile/amphibian inventory 1 1 1
Fish inventory 1 1 1
Plant inventory 1 1 1
Vegetation map 1 1 1
Invertebrate inventory 1 1 1
Geographic maps 1 1 1
Soil map 1 1 1
Climatic data 1 1 1
Hydrology data 1 1 1
Topographic maps 1 1 1
Aerial photos 0 0 0
Bibliography 1 1 1
6WXGLHVRIIDXQDÀRUD 000
Population studies 0 0 0
Rel. wildlife/habitats 0 0 0
Predator/prey studies 0 0 0
Carrying capacity studies 0 0 0

Parasite information 0 0 0
Ecological succession 0 0 0
Life history information 0 0 0
Management plans 3 2 2
Limits 2 2 2
Natural resources protection 1 1 1
Research level 3 3 3
Formal education 4 3 3
Educational offers 3.5 1.5 0
Political support 4 4 4
Local participation 2 4 2
%HQH¿WVIRUORFDOV 321
Budget 2 2 2
Personnel/training 2 2 2
External support 2 2 2
Score 48.5 42.5 41
Méndez-Carvajal et al.
20
Conclusion
The conservation activities for these species have been
developed with the strong support of volunteers from the
local communities, the University of Panama, and the sup-
port of national and international organizations. The objective
of this article is to encourage native biologists or primatolo-
gists from developing countries to promote similar plans in
order to protect their threatened species and obtain accurate
data for their conservation. Efforts for conservation do not
have to start with large sums of money. Instead, they should
start with real commitment allied with voluntary efforts to
work for the conservation of these species and their ecosys-

tems. Money, however, is crucial for long term presence of
these activities in target areas. One of the important steps in
this conservation project has been the education of the com-
munities and the understanding of their needs. We have also
tried to take into account recommendations of conservation
practices, which state that: “involvement of the local people
into the conservation activities will promote good opportuni-
ties and actions for and from them, making the locals feel
like a real part of the solution” (Horwich 1996; Rabinowitz
2003; Curtis and Valdez 2009). Our activities have caught the
attention of the Panamanian authorities, international scien-
WL¿FLQVWLWXWLRQVDQG1*2¶VVWLPXODWLQJSRVVLELOLWLHVIRUQHZ
projects related to the conservation of the Azuero primates;
the Azuero Earth Project is an example; see Metzel (2011).
However, our experience working with the Azuero communi-
ties has also suggested that our substantial efforts to conserve
these species could come to naught without collaboration and
alignment from new research initiatives and other organiza-
tions, such that are equally committed to our cause. Diverse
initiatives with differing goals and methodologies could
well confuse the local communities and undo the goodwill
and understanding that we have fostered. Even creation of
environmental laws, 25 critically endangered species lists, or
national parks or reserves will not help in conservation if we
do not deal with the people and inform them directly, so local
people need to be trained and supported if we really want to
save a species.
Panamanian newspapers have been very supportive,
with local papers reporting hunting events that take place
in Azuero. A series of articles written by the newspapers La

Prensa de Panamá, Día a Día, La Crítica Libre de Panamá,
and El Panamá América (Día “D” Supplement), has reported
on hunting activity, the deaths of monkeys and their causes,
helping us focus our research and conservation plans (Fig. 4).
We hope that this long-term environmental education project
will help with ideas for the conservation of other Neotropical
primates.
Recommendations
Azuero howler and spider monkeys are endemic subspe-
cies not only at the country level but also at the regional level,
which placed them as “Maximum Priority” for conservation
measures in the Mesoamerican Primate Action Plan (Rodrí-
guez-Luna et al. 1996). They are ranked as Critically Endan-
gered on the IUCN Red List (Cuarón et al. 2013). The only
RI¿FLDOUHSRUWRQWKHLUFRQVHUYDWLRQVWDWXVKDVHVWLPDWHGRQO\
145 Azuero spider monkeys still surviving in the wild (Mén-
dez-Carvajal 2011). About 3,000 Azuero howler monkeys
remain in the wild (Méndez-Carvajal 2011). Considering that
these calculations include infants and juveniles, the reproduc-
tive population (adults) for these primates is considerably less.
With these low numbers, we recommend that any invasive
method employed to study these primates, including the use
of radio collars, be avoided. For our organization, it is great
to share our achievements and our future goals not only for
Azuero primates, but for all the non-human primates living in
Panama (Tables 1 and 2).
Acknowledgments
We thank the Panama National Environmental Authority
(ANAM) for their cooperation. We particularly thank Elena
Méndez, Marta C. de Méndez, Ricardo Moreno, Samuel

Valdes, Jorge Garzón, Robert Duarte, Alejandro Garrido, and
(OYLD 0LUDQGD IRUWKHLUVXSSRUW DV YROXQWHHUVLQ¿HOG ZRUN
and administration duties. Special thanks to the Panamanian
journalists for their interest in conservation and publications
DERXW WKH $]XHUR IDXQD DQG ÀRUD VSHFL¿FDOO\ $OFLELDGHV
Cortés, Ángel Santos Barrios, Cynthia Sánchez, Eduardo
Figure 4. A) Percentage of the more important threats of Azuero primates ex-
pressed in a pie graph, for the period of 1996 to 2009. Natural factors have been
LQÀXHQFLQJSULPDWHSRSXODWLRQVDQGRWKHUIDXQDSUREDEO\GXHWRWKHFOLPDWH
changes by deforestation. B) Incidence of poaching on the howler population
per year.

0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
1996 1999 2000 2001 2003 2005 2006 2009
Year
No. Dead Monkeys by Poacher
s
Causes of mortality in Azuero monkeys 1996-2009
Hunting
31%
Agriculture

29%
Natural
38%
Road killed

2%
A
B
Primate Conservation in Panama
21
Soto Pimentel, Herasto Reyes, Ismael Hernández, José
Poveda, Milciades Pinzón, Omar Rodríguez, Sugeiris Mitre,
Víctor Dagoberto Torres, Vielka Corro Rios,Yelena Rodrí-
guez, Rocio Martins, Zenaida Vásquez, Tamara del Morral,
Marlen Testa, Thays Domínguez. We are grateful to Aida
Bustamante Ho, Corri Waitt, Juan Carlos Serio-Silva, Robert
Horwich, Robert Horsburgh, and Anthony B. Rylands for
their valuable support and reviewing this manuscript. This
project has been partially supported thanks to Primates Con-
servation Inc., Idea Wild, Distribuidora
Panatex, S.A., Ford
Motor Company
, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation
Fund, Rufford Small Grants Foundation and Wild Futures.
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Authors’ addresses:
Pedro Méndez-Carvajal, Ivelisse Ruiz-Bernard, Yarelis
González, Kenia Sánchez, Valeria Franco, Somaly Silva,

and Glenis De León, Fundación Pro-Conservación de los Pri-
mates Panameños (FCPP), Panamá 0816-07905, República
de Panamá. E-mail:
<

>
.
Received for publication: 11 October 2011
Revised: 15 November 2013